Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist 1565 - 1653

Hans Krumpper created this pen and brown ink drawing, titled *Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist*, during a time of religious and social reformation. Krumpper, working in Bavaria, was deeply immersed in the religious tensions between the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. This work presents the traditional patriarchal idea of the Holy Family, yet, consider how the figures are softened by the intimate setting. The Virgin Mary is drawn with great care, her soft and feminine features a stark contrast to the more angular depiction of Joseph. Are we seeing an intentional shift in emphasis onto the maternal figure? And what are we to make of the presence of the infant John the Baptist, as he holds the sacrificial lamb? Here, the personal devotion meets the public doctrine, reflecting the period's negotiation of faith and power. The drawing invites a moment to reflect on the roles within families, and how they intersect with broader religious and societal expectations.